Preview: Raptors at Wizards

March 31, 2013|Reuters

The Washington Wizards have been a different team at home than on the road, and they'll aim for their seventh straight victory at Verizon Center when they host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The Raptors are trying to sweep a quick two-game road trip after winning 99-82 at Detroit on Friday to snap a five-game skid.

The Wizards are coming off consecutive road losses to Oklahoma City and Orlando, but they're riding their longest home winning streak since a 10-game run in 2006-07. Washington is likely to be short-handed, as rookie guard Bradley Beal (left ankle) and veteran forward Nene (right knee) are listed as questionable. It's the third meeting this season with the road team having won the first two. The season series concludes Wednesday in Toronto.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), CSN Washington

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (27-45): Toronto doesn't have much left to play for and the team is already looking toward the future. "We've got a lot of young players and we're playing for next year," star forward Rudy Gay told reporters. "These young guys need to know what it feels like to win." They haven't experienced much of that lately, as the Raptors haven't won consecutive games since a five-game streak from Feb. 8-19. Rookie center Jonas Valanciunas has been among the bright spots, scoring in double figures in 10 of the past 11 games.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (26-46): Washington has enjoyed a solid second half of the season, but the Wizards didn't endear themselves to their coach with their showing in Friday's 97-92 loss at Orlando. "I don't think anybody had a good performance," coach Randy Wittman told reporters. "Over and over again this year we just go through the motions against teams like this and it costs you." That hasn't been the case at home, where the Wizards have averaged 105 points and held opponents to 92.2 points per contest during their six-game winning streak.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Raptors have totaled 106 points in the paint in the past two games, well above their season average of 38.6.

2. Wizards PG John Wall has averaged 25.3 points, 8.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds over his last 11 games with five double-doubles during that streatch. The Wizards are 21-18 with Wall and 5-28 without him.

3. Gay and DeMar DeRozan have scored 20 or more points in the same game five times in 23 contests since Gay joined the Raptors, but Toronto is only 3-2 in those games.